Reclining chair



Jan. 29, 1963 A. LORENZ 3,075,808

RECLINING CHAIR Filed Sept. 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

I IN VENTOR.

ANTON LOQE/VZ BY M 1W A TTORNEY:

Jan. 29, 1963 A. LORENZ 3,

RECLINING CHAIR Filed Sept. 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR.

A/VTO/V 1 OR 5 NZ BY m 1W1, A TTOR 73 Jan. 29, 1963 A. LORENZ 3,075,803

RECLINING CHAIR Filed Sept. 10, 1958 3 sheets-sheet 3 M INVENTOR.

- A/vro/v zolzs/vz United States Patent ()fiice 3,h?5,li8 Patented Jan. 29, 1963 3,675,8498 RECLlNiNtl CHAER Anton Lorenz, @cean Ridge, Boynton Beach, Fla. Filed Sept. 10, 1953, Ser. No. 7613,208 5 Claims. ((31. 291-85) The present invention relates generally to reclining chairs of the type including a movable seat, back-rest and leg-rest, and in particular to an improved reclining chair of the double movement type wherein during a first phase of the reclining movement the leg-rest is moved to an elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat and during a further phase of the reclining movement the leg-rest remains in the elevated leg-supporting position while the seat and back-rest of the body-supporting unit move into the required angular relation for accommodating the chair occupant in a fully reclined position.

The well-known reclining chair comprises a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest movable relative to each other for inclining and reclining movement respectively, and a leg-rest mounted below the seat for elevating movement into various leg-supporting positions forwardly of the seat. Such reclining chair includes appropriate mounting and control linkages which coordinate the seat and leg-rest to the movement of the back-rest such that the required inclination of the seat and elevation of the leg-rest is achieved as a function of or in response to the reclining movement of the back-rest.

In my copending application Serial No. 526,635, filed August 5, 1955 and entitled Article of Repose for Supporting the Body of a Person, now US. Patent No. 2,948,- 330 of August 9, 1960 there is disclosed an improved reclining chair wherein there are two phases of chair movement. During a first phase or portion of the chair movement, the body-supporting unit is moved into an intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position, and the leg- 'rest is moved into an elevated leg-supporting position.

During a second phase or portion of the reclining movement the body-supporting unit is moved to a fully reclined position, with the leg-rest remaining substantially in the elevated leg-supporting position during such further movement. In this general type of double movement chair, it is preferable that the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest remain substantially the same as the chair moves through the first phase into the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position such that the chair occupant may be comfortably accommodated in an attitude appropriate for viewing television, reading, sewing and the like; and that the angle between the seat and back-rest opens up as the chair moves through the second phase into the fully reclined position such that the chair occupant may be accommodated in an attitude appropriate for complete or full relaxation.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reclining chair of the double movement type. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improved mounting and control arrangement for achieving the coordinated move ment of the seat and leg-rest of the reclining chair in response to the reclining movement of the back-rest such that the requisite relative positions of the chair components are attained during the first and second phases of the reclining movement to accommodate the chair occupant in the various relaxation positions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified linkage for achieving the requisite relative movement of the seat and leg-rest of a reclining chair such that during a first phase or portion of the reclining movement the leg-rest is elevated, with the seat and back-rest remaining substantially in the same angular relationhip as in the sitting position, and during a second phase or portion of the reclining movement the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest increases substantially, with the leg-rest remaining elevated.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, my improved reclining chair comprises a support, a bodysupporting unit including a seat and back-rest movable relative to each other for inclining and reclining movement respectively, and a means operatively connected between the support and the body-supporting unit mounting the body-supporting unit for movement successively from a sitting position into an intermediate resting position and from the intermediate resting position into a reclining position. The mounting means includes a linkage having at least two pivots on the support providing a stationary link, and movable links which are pivotally connected to the stationary link. Means are provided for mounting one of the pivots on the support for displacement away from the other of the pivots on the support to increase the effective length of the stationary link. The linkage is effective in response to the first phase of chair movement from the sitting position into the resting position to impart a first inclination to the seat, which inclination is preferably selected such that there is relatively no displacement between the seat and back-rest. During such first phase of chair movement, the one pivot remains stationary relative to the support and serves as a pivot of the linkage. The linkage is further effective in response to the second phase of chair movement from the resting position into the reclining position to impart a second inclination to the seat, preferably such that the requisite relative displacement is achieved between the seat and back-rest to attain the complete relaxation position. During such second phase of the motion the one pivot is displaced away from the other pivot. In some instances, useful applications may be found for this mounting linkage which permits different angular relationships between the seat and back-rest to be attained during dif- 'ferent portions of the chair movement. However, for most practical applications, a leg-rest is mounted beneath the seat and is elevated by an appropriate leg-rest control linkage which is operatively connected to the body-supporting unit and elevates the leg-rest into a leg-support ing position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit into the intermediate resting position. Provision is made for blocking the leg-rest control linkage when the chair moves into the intermediate resting position; and during the second or further phase of the reclining movement, the blocked leg-rest control linkage supports the leg-rest in the elevated legsupporting position.

Advantageonsly, my improved coordinating linkage employs pivotally mounted links, with appropriate provision for lost motion travel of at least one of the pivots for one of the links, such that chairs incorporating such coordinating linkage may be manufactured on a massproduction basis with comparatively low unit cost and with a reasonable assurance of substantially trouble-free operation.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of several illustrative embodiments demonstrating features of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, of a reclining chair of the double movement type demonstrating features of the present invention, sh wn in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but

showing the reclining chair in the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined resting position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the chair in the extreme or fully reclined position;

' FIG. 4 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, of a further embodiment of reclining chair of the double movement type demonstrating further features of the present invention, shown in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the reclining chair in the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined resting position; and,

FIG. .6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the chair in the extreme or fully reclined position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive a first embodiment of reclining chair of the double movement type demonstrating features of the present invention, which has been generally designated by the reference numeral 10, and includes a support 12 having opposite side walls 14, 16 interconnected by appropriate cross braces or bars 18, 20, and 22 on which is movably mounted a body-supporting unit including a seat 24 and a back-rest 26.

Appropriate mounting means are operatively connected to the body-supporting unit for mounting the same for movement successively. from a sitting position (illustrated in FIG. 1) into an intermediate tilted or resting position (illustrated in FIG. 2) and from the resting position into a reclining position (illustrated in FIG. 3). In this embodiment, the back-rest 26 is mounted on the support 12 ata back-rest pivot 28 contiguous to the lower end of the hack-rest 26. The seat 24 is mounted at the back-rest pivot 28' by means of rearwardly' directed rigid hangers 30 fixed to the seat 24 and journaled on the hack-rest pivot 28. In the normal or upright sitting position of the chair,

the seat 24 rests on the cross-brace. 22 of the support or frame 12 which serves as a stop.

The mounting means further includes seat control means which are operatively connected to the seat- 24 and :controlled from the back-rest 26 to increase the angular displacement between the seat 24 and back-rest 26 in response to movement of the body-supporting unit from th resting position to the reclining position. Specifically,

'the seat control means is eflective during a first phase or 'portion of the reclining movement to incline the seat 24 fully reclined position. such that there is substantial displacement between the back-rest 26 and seat 24 wherehy-the chair occupant, is accommodated'in a stretched-out or reclining attitude. The seat control means is operated from a depending rigid extension 32 on the back-rest 26 extending below the back rest pivot 28 and includes a linkage having at least two pivots on the support'providing a stationary link and movable links pivotally connected to the stationary link, with means mounting one of the pivots on the support for. displacement away from the other ofthe pivots on the support to increase the eflfective length ofthe stationary link. In this embodiment, a guiding link 34' is provided which has a movably mounted pivot 36 on the support 12. The movably mounted pivot 36 is constrained within a guiding bracket 38 provided with an elongated slot or guide-way 40 which extends substantially lengthwise of the support with its rearward end being-provided with a seating or hearing notch 40a which accommodates the mounting pin-- 36. It will be appreciated that themounting pin 36 and the guiding bracket 38-with its el'ongated guideway 40 provides for the pivotal mounting of the guiding link 34 for turning movement about the mounting pin 36 when accommodated in the seating or bearing notch 40a and for the translation or displacement of the guiding link 34 and its pivot 36 through a lost motion stroke toward the forward end of the chair. The length and path of the lost motion stroke is established by the elongated guideway 40. As is generally understood in the art, other substantially equivalent means may be employed for mounting the guiding link 34 for pivotal movement about a relatively stationary pivot and for translation relative to the support. For example, the pivot pin 36 may be mounted on the support and the guiding bracket 38 may be formed integral with the link 34 such that this equivalent pin and slot interconnection serve as a lost motion mounting means. Extending between the back-rest extension 32 and the guiding link 34 is an actuating link 42 which has a pivotal connection 44 at its rearward end to the lower end of the back-rest extension 32 and has a pivotal connection 46 at its forward end to the guiding link 34. Connected between the guiding link 34 and the seat 24 is a seat control link 48 which has a pivotal connection 50 at its rearward end to the guiding link 34 at a point spaced below the pivotal connection 46 to the actuating link 42 and has a pivotal connection 52 at its forward end to the seat 24. The seat control link 48 is disposed in an inclined position extending forwardly and upwardly from its lower end to its upper end and is effective in response to turning movement of the guiding link 34 about the pivot 36 to impart a prescribed inclination" to the seat 24. The described arrangement will be recognized as providing a four-bar mounting linkage including the back-rest pivot 28 as a first stationary pivot and the mounting pin 36 as a substantially stationary second pivot, with the poriton of the support intermediate the pivots 28, 36, serving" as a stationary link of the four-bar linkage. The back-rest extension 32 intermediate the pivots 28, 44, the actuating link 42 and the portion of the guiding link 34 intermediate the pivots 36, 46' serve as the movable links of the fourbar linkage. As the mounting pin 36 translates along the guideway- 40 through the lost motion stroke it will be appreciated. that the etfective length of the stationary link intermediate the pivots 28, 36 will be increased, for a purpose to he subsequently described;

Disposed beneath. the forward end of the seat 24' is a leg-rest 54 which is movable into elevated leg-supporting positions in response to reclining movement of the backrest 26. The leg-rest 54' is mounted beneath the forward end of the seat 24 by" first and second link pairs 56, 58 and 60, 62 which are partially connected between the seat'and leg-rest. Specifically, the lower end of the link 56 has a pivotalconnection 64'tothe' rearward end of the link 58 while the lower end of the link 60 has a pivotal connection 66 to the rearward end ofthe link 62. The link 58 crosses over the link 60 and has a pivotal connec tion 68 thereto atthecross-over point. The links 56, 60 have respective pivotalconnections 52, 70 to the seat at spaced points thereof, while the links 58', 62 have respective pivotal connections 72, 74 to the leg-rest 54"atspa'ced points thereof. The leg-rest mounting linkage will be recognized as being of" the type shown and'described in US. Patent No. 2,781,824 of February 19, 1957, and is subject to a latitude of' change and. variation as is generally understood. The leg-rest mounting linkage is c'oordinated to and controlled from the guiding link 34' by and actuating link 76 which has a pivotal connection 78 at its're'arward endto the guidinglink 34 and has a pivotal connection 80 at its forward en'dto the link 56 of the first link pair56, 58.

Provision is made for blocking the leg-rest mounting linkage in response to" movement ofthe body-supporting unit into the resting position, with the-blocked 1eg-rest mounting linkage maintainingthe leg rest in an elevated leg-supporting'position' as seen in'FIG S. 2 and 3; In this form" of the invention; the-blocking means is a stop 82 fixed to the undersurface of the seat 24 and in position to abut the first link 60 of the second link pair 60, 62 when the leg-rest is moved to the required elevated leg'supporting position forwardly of the seat, with the bodysupporting unit in the required tilted attitude to establish the intermediate resting or tilted position.

A more thorough understanding of the construction and function of my improved reclining chair will he had by reference to the following description of an illustrative sequence of operations, making progressive reference to FIGS. l-3 inclusive:

When the chair occupant is seated and leans against the back-rest 26, the back-rest begins to turn about the backrest pivot 28 and the back-rest extension 32 moves through a forward and upward arc which imparts a forward thrust to the actuating link 42. The actuating link 42 causes the guiding link 34 to turn in the counterclockwise direction about the mounting pin or pivot 36, with the pin remaining in the seating or hearing notch 443a of the guideway 44 Movement of the guiding link 3 achieves two functions. Firstly, a prescribed first inclination is imparted to the seat 24, by the seat control link 48. The length and position of the seat control link 48 is so chosen that substantially no angular change occurs between the back-rest 26 and seat 24 during the first phase of the chair movement. Second, the leg-rest mounting and controlling linkage is actuated by the actuating i k 75, with the leg-rest 54 being elevated through a comparatively large swinging movement in the first phase or portion of the reclining movement such that the leg-rest moves into the leg-supporting position illustrated in FIG. 2. When the leg-rest 54 arrives at the elevated leg-supporting position, the link 61) contacts the blocking member $2 which blocks the leg-rest mounting and controlling-linkage and ends the first phase or portion of the chair movement. The relationship of the back-rest, seat and leg-rest in the intermediate tilted or resting position is selected to comfortably accommodate the chair occupant for viewing television, reading, sewing, or other activities wherein a semi-reclined attitude is appropriate.

When the chair occupant desires to assume a more comfortable resting position, such as the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 3, the occupant leans further against the back-rest 26. Since the leg-rest mounting and controlling linkage is blocked, a translating force is exerted by the actuating link 4-2 on the guiding link 34 which tends to move the mounting pin or pivot 36 out of the seating notch 49a and to displace the same along the guideway 40 through a lost motion travel or stroke. Simultaneously the guiding link 34 continues to turn about the pivot 36 a the pivot translates. It will be appreciated that a compound movement is thus imparted to the seat control link 48 which will bring about less tilting of the seat 24 during the second phase of the reclining movement which enables a substantial increase of the angle between the seat 24 and back-rest 26 such that the proper relationship of the seat and back-rest is established for the fully reclined position, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The movement of the chair linkage during the second phase or portion of chair movement only affects the relationship of the seat relative to the back-rest. The leg-rest mounting and controlling linkage is substantially unaffected, with the leg-rest remaining in the elevated leg-supporting position. The actuating force normally applied to the legrest and its mounting and controlling linkage via the actuating link '75 is taken up by the lost motion travel of the pin 36 within the guideway 49.

When it is desired to restore the chair to the upright sitting position, the chair occupant presses down against the leg-rest 54 which will cause the pin 36 in the guideway to return through the lost motion travel to the seated position within the notch 411a, with a corresponding return of the back-rest and seat to the semi-reclined or tilted position illustrated in FIG. 2. Further dis- U placement of the chair components will restore the legrest to its stored position, with the back-rest and seat in the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the described arrangement achieves the requisite coordinated movement of the back-rest, seat and leg-rest, with the leg-rest moving to an elevated leg-supporting position in response to a first phase of reclining movement and with substantially no change in the angular relationship between the seat and the back-rest. In the sec- The lost motion travel of the guiding link 34 during the second phase of the reclining movement enables the required relationship between the seat and back-rest to be established via the seat control link 48 and further enables the leg-rest to remain in the elevated or legsupporting position with the leg-rest mounting and controlling linkage blocked.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4-6, there is shown a second embodiment of reclining chair of the double movement type demonstrating features of the present invention, which has been generally designated by the reference numeral and includes a support 112 having opposite side walls 114, 116 interconnected by appropriate cross-brace or bars 118, 120 and 122 on which is movably mounted a body-supporting unit including a seat 124 and a back-rest 1Z6.

Appropriate mounting means are operatively con 'nected to the body-supporting unit for mounting the same for movement successively from a sitting position (illustrated in FIG. 4) into an intermediate semi-reclined resting position (illustrated in FIG. 5) and from the resting position into a reclining position (illustrated in FIG. 63). In this embodiment, the back-rest 126 is mounted on the support 112 at a back-rest pivot 128 contiguous to the lower end of the back-rest 126, and the seat 124 is mounted at the back-rest pivot 128 by means of rearwardly directed rigid hangers 130 fixed to the seat 124. In the normal or upright sitting position of the chair, the seat 124 rests on the cross-brace 122 of the support or frame 112 which serves as a stop.

Seat control means are operatively connected to'the seat 124 and controlled from the back-rest 126 to increase the angular displacement between the seat 124 and back-rest 126 in response to movement of the bodysupporting unit from the resting position to the reclining position. Specifically, the seat control means is effective during a first phase or portion of the reclining movement to incline the seat 124 between the sitting position and the intermediate tilted or resting position such that there is relatively no displacement between the seat and backrest whereby the chair occupant remains in a substantially seated attitude but tilted rearwardly; and during a second or further phase of the reclining movement the seat is inclined such that there is substantial displacement between the back-rest and seat whereby the chair occupant is accommodated in a stretched-out or reclining attitude. The seat control means is operated from a depending rigid extension 132 on the back-rest extend ing below the back-rest pivot 128 and includes a linkage having at least two pivots on the support providing a stationary link and movable links pivotally connected to the stationary link with means mounting one or" the pivots on the support for displacement away from the other of the pivots to increase the efiective length of the statiohary link. In this embodiment, the back-rest pivot 128 serves as the movably mounted pivot of the linkage and is.constrained within in a guiding bracket 138 provided with an elongated slot or guide-way 141]) which extends upwardly and rearwardly from its forward end, with the pivot or pin 128 being normally seated for rotation at said forward end or hearing portion 140a. It will be appreciated that the mounting pin 128 and the guiding bracket 138 with its elongated guideway 140 provides for tension for pivotal movement about a relatively stationary pivot and for translation relative to the relatively stationary pivot and the support. The linkage further includes a guiding link 134 mounted on the support 112 at a'pivot 136 serving as the second stationary pivot of the linkage. Extending between the back-rest extension 132 and the guiding link 134 is an actuating link 142 which has a pivotal connection 144 at its rearward end to the lower end of the back-rest extension 132 and has a pivotal connection 146 at its forward end to the guiding link 134. Extending between the guiding link 134 and the seat 124 is a seat control link 148 which has a pivotal connection 150 at its rearward end to the guiding link 134-at a point spaced below the pivotal connection 146 to the actuating link 142 and has a pivotal connection 152 at its forward end to the seat 124. The seat control link 148.is disposed in an inclined position extending forwardly and upwardly from its lower end to its upper end and is effective in response to turning movement of the guiding link 134 about the pivot 136 to impart a prescribed inclination to the seat 124. The described arrangement will be recognized as providing a four-bar mounting linkage including the back-rest pivot 128 as a first relatively stationary pivot and the mounting pin 136 as a second stationary pivot. The portion of the support intermediate the pivots 128, 136, serves as a stationary link of the four-bar mounting linkage while the backrest extension 134 intermediate the pivots 128, 144, the actuating link 142 and the portion of the guiding link 134intermediate the pivots 136, 146 serve as the movable links of the four-bar mounting linkage. As the back-rest pivot 128 translates upwardly and rearwardly along the guideway 140 through the lost motion stroke, it will be appreciated that the effective length of the stationary link intermediate the pivots 128, 136 will be increased.

.Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 124 is a leg-rest 154 which ismovable into a leg-supporting posi- .tion in response to reclining movement of the back-rest 126. The leg-rest 154 is mounted beneath the forward end of. the *seat v124 by first and second link pairs 156, 158 and 160, 162 which are operatively connected between the seat and leg-rest. Specifically, the lower end of the link 156 has a pivotal connection 164 to the rearwardend of the link 158 while the lower end of the link 160 has a pivotal connection 166 to the rearward end of the link 162. The link I58 crosses over the link 160 and has a pivotal connection 168 thereto at the cross-over -point.

ment the leg-rest mounting linkage will be recognized as being of the type shown and described by U. S. Patent No. 2,781,824of February 19, 1957, and is subject to a latitude of change and variation as is generally understood. The leg-rest mounting linkage ,is coordinated to 8 and controlled from the guiding link 134 by an actuating link 176 which has a pivotal connection 178 at its rearward end to the guiding link 134 and has a pivotal connection 180 at its forward end to the link 156 of the first link pair 156, 158.

Provision is made for blocking the leg-rest mounting and control linkage in response to movement of the bodysupporting unit into the resting position, with the blocked leg-rest control linkage maintaining the leg-rest 154 in an elevated leg-supporting position as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this form of the invention, the blocking means is a stop 1S2 fixed to the undersurface of the seat 124 in position to abut the first link 160 of the second link pair 160, 162 when the leg-rest is moved to the elevated legsupporting position forwardly of the seat, with the bodysupporting unit in the requisite tilted attitude to establish the intermediate resting or tilted position.

A more thorough understanding of the construction and function of this embodiment of my improved reclining chair will be had by reference to the following de scription of an illustrative sequence of operations, making progressive reference to FIGS. 4-6 inclusive:

When the chair occupant is seated and leans against the back-rest 126, the back-rest begins to turn about the back-rest pivot 128 and the back-rest extension 132 moves through a forward and upward are which imparts a thrust to the actuating link 142. The actuating link causes the guiding link 134 to turn in the counterclockwise direction about the mounting pin or pivot 136. Movement of the guiding link 134 achieves two functions. Firstly, via the seat control link 148, a prescribed first inclination is imparted to the seat 124. The length and position of the seat control link 148 is so chosen that substantially no angular change occurs between the backrest 126 and seat 124 during the first phase of the movement. Second, the leg-rest mounting and control linkage is actuated via the actuating link 176, with the leg-rest being elevated with a comparatively large swinging movement in the first phase or portion of the reclining movement such that the leg-rest moves into the elevated legsupporting position illustrated in FIG. 5. When the legrest arrives at the elevated leg-supporting position, the link 160 contacts the blocking member 182 which blocks the leg-rest mounting and control linkage and ends the first phase or portion of the reclining movement. The relationship of the back-rest, seat and leg-rest in the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5 is selected to comfortably accommodate the chair occupant for viewing television, reading, sewing, or other activities wherein a semi-reclined attitude is comfortable.

When the chair occupant desires to assume a more comfortable resting position, such as the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 6, the occupant leans further against the back-rest 126. Since the leg-rest mounting and control linkage is blocked, a translating force is exerted by the actuating link 142 and the guiding link 134 on the back-rest extension 132 which tends to move the mounting pin or pivot 128 out of the seated position a at the forward and lower end of the guideway 140 and to displace the same upwardly and rearwardly along the guideway 140 through a lost motion travel. It will be appreciated that as a result of the rearward displacement of the extension 132 a lesser degree of movement will be imparted to the seat control link 148 by the actuating link 142 and the guiding link 134 which will bring about less tilting of the seat 124 during the second phase of the reclining movement which brings about a substantial increase in the angle between the seat and back-rest such that the proper relationship of the back-rest and seat is established for the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 6. The movement of the four-bar linkage during the second phase or portion of the chair movement only affects the relationship of the seat relative to the back-rest. The leg-rest remains in the leg supporting position with the actuating force normally applied totheleg-rest via the link 176 being taken up by the lost motion travel of the pin 128 within the guideway 14%.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest movable relative to each other for inclining and reclining movement respectively, means mounting said body-supporting unit for movement successively from a sitting position into an intermediate resting position and from said resting position into a reclining position, said mounting means being operatively connected to said seat for displacing said seat relative to said back-rest in response to movement of said body-supporting unit from said resting position into said reclining position and including a control linkage having at least two pivots on said support providing a stationary link, movable links pivotally connected to said sta tionary link and means mounting one of said pivots on said support for displacement away from the other of said pivots, a leg-rest control linkage operable from said bodysupporting unit, a leg-rest operatively connected to said leg-rest control linkage and elevated into a leg-supporting position in response to movement of said body-supporting unit into said resting position, said movable links moving relative to each other and said one pivot remaining substantially stationary during movement of said body-supporting unit into said resting position and said movable links moving relative to each other and said one pivot being displaced away from said other pivot during movement of said body-supporting unit from said resting position into said reclining position, and means for blocking said leg-rest control linkage in response to movement of said body-supporting unit into said resting position, the blocking of said leg-rest control linkage being effective to provide a reaction force during movement of said bodysupporting unit from said resting position to said reclining position which is effective to displace said one pivot away from said other pivot. v

2. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest movable relative to each other, mounting means including a main pivot mounting said body-supporting unit for movement successively from a sitting position into an intermediate resting position and from said resting position into a reclining position said mounting means including, a seat control linkage including links movable relative to each other in response to movement of said body-supporting unit, said seat control linkage including an auxiliary pivot for displacement relative to said main pivot, a leg-rest, a leg-rest control linkage operatively connected to said seat-control linkage and to said leg-rest and operative to elevate said leg-rest into a leg-supporting position in response to movement of said body-supporting unit into said resting position, said seat control linkage being arranged such that said auxiliary pivot remains substantially stationary during movement of said leg-rest into said leg-supporting position and such that said auxiliary pivot is displaced away from said main pivot when said leg-rest control linkage is blocked, and means for blocking said leg-rest control linkage in response to movement of said bodysupporting unit into said resting position such that the blocked leg-rest control linkage maintains said leg-rest in said leg-supporting position, the blocking of said leg-rest control linkage being effective to provide a reaction force during movement of said body-supporting unit from said resting position to said reclining position which serves as a means to displace said auxiliary pivot away from said main pivot.

3. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supportingunit including a seat and back-rest movable relative to each other, mounting means including a main pivot mounting said body-supporting unit for movement successively from a sitting position into an intermediate resting position with substantially no relative displacement between said seat and back-rest and from said resting position into a reclining position with relative displacement between said seat and said back-rest, said mounting means including a seat control linkage including links movable relative to each other in response to movement of said body-supporting unit, said seat-control linkage including an auxiliary pivot for one of said links and means mounting said auxiliary pivot for displacement relative to said main pivot, a leg-rest, a leg-rest control linkage operatively connected to said seat-control linkage and to said legrest and operative to elevate said leg-rest into a leg-supporting position in response to movement of said bodysupporting unit into said resting position, said auxiliary pivot remaining substantially stationary during movement of said leg-rest into said leg-supporting position and said auxiliary pivot being displaced away from said main pivot when said leg-rest control linkage is blocked, and means for blocking said leg-rest control linkage in response to movement of said body-supporting unit into said resting position such that the blocked leg-rest control linkage maintains said leg-rest in said leg-supporting position, the blocking of said leg-rest control linkage being effective to provide a reaction force during movement of said bodysupporting unit from said resting position to said reclining position which serves as a means to displace said auxiliary pivot away from said main pivot.

4. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest movable relative to each other, mounting means including a main pivot mounting said body-supporting unit for movement successively from a sitting position into an intermediate resting position with substantially no relative displacement between said seat and back-rest and into a reclining position with relative displacement between said seat and said back-rest, said mounting means including a seat control linkage including links movable relative to each other in response to movement of said body-supporting unit and an auxiliary pivot for one of said links, means mounting said main pivot for displacement relative to said auxiliary pivot, a leg-rest, a leg-rest control linkage operatively connected to said seat-control linkage and to said leg-rest and operative to elevate said leg-rest into a leg-supporting position in response to movement of said body-supporting unit into said resting position, said seat-control linkage being arranged such that said main pivot remains substantially stationary during movement of said leg-rest into said leg-supporting position and such that said main pivot is displaced away from said auxiliary pivot when said leg-rest control linkage is blocked and means for blocking said leg-rest control linkage in response to movement of said body-supporting unit into said resting position such that the blocked leg-rest control linkage maintains said legrest in said leg-supporting position, said main pivot being displaced away from said auxiliary pivot in response to movement of said body-supporting unit from said resting position into said reclining position whereby said bodysupporting unit may continue to move with said leg-rest control linkage blocked, the blocking of said leg-rest control linkage being eilective to provide a reaction force during movement of said body-supporting unit from said resting position into said reclining position which serves as a means to displace said main pivot away from said auxiliary pivot.

5. A reclining chair comprising a support, a bodysupporting means including a seat and back-rest movable relative to each other for inclining and reclining movement respectively, means including a first pivot on said support operatively connected to and mounting said body-supporting means for movement successively through a first motion phase from a sitting position into an intermediate 1 1 resting position with relatively no displacement between said seat and back-rest and through a second motion phase from said testing position into a reclining position with displacement between said seat and said back-rest, the mounting means including a linkage having movable links and having a further pivot of said linkage on said support, means mounting one of said pivots on said support for displacement away from the other of said pivots to increase the effective length of the stationary link defined intermediate said pivots, said movable links of said linkage moving relative to each other and being etfective in response to movement of said body-supporting means through said first motion phase from said sitting position into said resting position to impart a first inclination to said seat such that there is relatively no angular displacement between said seat and back-rest, said one pivot remaining stationary relative to said snpport during said first motion phase, said movable links of said linkage moving relative to each other and being effective in response to movement of said body-supporting means through said 20 second motion phase from said resting position into said reclining position to impart a second inclination to said seat such that there is relative angular displacement between said seat and back-rest, means operable during said second motion phase to displace said one pivot away from said other pivot, a leg-rest, means mounting said leg-rest for movement from a stored position to an elevated legsupporting position, means coupling said leg-rest to said linkage for moving said leg-rest to said elevated leg-supporting position during said first motion phase, and means for blocking movement of said leg-rest relative to said body-supporting means, the blocking of said leg-rest being effective to provide a reaction force during said second motion phase which serves as said means to displace said one pivot away from said other pivot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 268,941 Sands Dec. 12, 1882 2,615,497 Luckhardt 2 Oct. 28, 1952 2,664,942 Spear Jan. 5, 1954 I FOREIGN PATENTS 724,385 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1955 

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT INCLUDING A SEAT AND BACK-REST MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER FOR INCLINING AND RECLINING MOVEMENT RESPECTIVELY, MEANS MOUNTING SAID BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT FOR MOVEMENT SUCCESSIVELY FROM A SITTING POSITION INTO AN INTERMEDIATE RESTING POSITION AND FROM SAID RESTING POSITION INTO A RECLINING POSITION, SAID MOUNTING MEANS BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SEAT FOR DISPLACING SAID SEAT RELATIVE TO SAID BACK-REST IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT FROM SAID RESTING POSITION INTO SAID RECLINING POSITION AND INCLUDING A CONTROL LINKAGE HAVING AT LEAST TWO PIVOTS ON SAID SUPPORT PROVIDING A STATIONARY LINK, MOVABLE LINKS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID STATIONARY LINK AND MEANS MOUNTING ONE OF SAID PIVOTS ON SAID SUPPORT FOR DISPLACEMENT AWAY FROM THE OTHER OF SAID PIVOTS, A LEG-REST CONTROL LINKAGE OPERABLE FROM SAID BODYSUPPORTING UNIT, A LEG-REST OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LEG-REST CONTROL LINKAGE AND ELEVATED INTO A LEG-SUPPORTING POSITION IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT INTO SAID RESTING POSITION, SAID MOVABLE LINKS MOVING RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND SAID ONE PIVOT REMAINING SUBSTANTIALLY STATIONARY DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT INTO SAID RESTING POSITION AND SAID MOVABLE LINKS MOVING RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND SAID ONE PIVOT BEING DISPLACED AWAY FROM SAID OTHER PIVOT DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT FROM SAID RESTING POSITION INTO SAID RECLINING POSITION, AND MEANS FOR BLOCKING SAID LEG-REST CONTROL LINKAGE IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT INTO SAID RESTING POSITION, THE BLOCKING OF SAID LEG-REST CONTROL LINKAGE BEING EFFECTIVE TO PROVIDE A REACTION FORCE DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID BODYSUPPORTING UNIT FROM SAID RESTING POSITION TO SAID RECLINING POSITION WHICH IS EFFECTIVE TO DISPLACE SAID ONE PIVOT AWAY FROM SAID OTHER PIVOT. 